New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-11
RAILWAY VIEWS ON THE LAW
WHAT Is THOUGHT OF ITS OPERATIONS.

Law IN good faith and without rigid criticism OF the
Ave men who have such important and delicate tasks
-o,I and some friction lie before both the Commits
sion and tho railway managers, but % each side now
aeep,s disposed to meet the other In spirit OF CO
operation and honesty. 1t 10 generally thought that
tho frict on will oe reduced to q minimum, no matter
hov ypluminous may be the details OF the Work TO
be done In adjusting the law, where 1t flexible so
~ not to prejudice transportation Interests whiie
preserving all the protection intended tor the puDno
Commissioner Albert Fink OF the Trunk Line Asso'
citation, yielded reluctantly to request from TkIB
UNE reporter tor his views OF the probable eneo' Vi
There would have been no difficulty in securing to
the public beneficial results from the operation OF inc
Interstate law II IL had not bee f9r tnS % Iy
rise to different interpretations 1t Is ippossioie 70
adapt the tariffs of this country to strict long and
rosds and has been practically In use tor many years
upon the trunk lines and their western connections
IL impossible to apply 1t to roads which run through
tbinly settled country. such as tho southern anu
continental systsms OF roads, without either
bAnkruptng the roads. il they comply with the rule
or on the other hand, obstructng commerce they
withdraw competition and operate the ROADS ~
mere local roads 1t seems strange that law shoald
pas Congress which interferes with the natural COM
petition s considered by the public as OF the most
mn ortant factors in the transportation business.
RULE OPPOSED TO COMMERCIAL INTERESTS
IL was great mistake to make an arbitrary iule
OF that sort which is opposed to the commercial in
terests OF the country. II the power OF suspendng
this rule is lodged in the Commission, some inter-
pref the law IL Is impossible tor 1t to deal with each
Individual in which It is Just and proper that the
rule should be suspended. Sections Nos. /. and
allie rates as we'll as unjust discrimination against
diyiduals or localities. This is ali that can DO To-
quited, and if these principles are violated by the
railroad companies q method is provided tor correc
ton aud punishment and all abuses heretofore exist
ing GOULD be gradually corrected. The people are
fully protected under these three sections OF the law
Only those would have to go before the Com
mission in which parties felt themselves Injured
while, under the Interpretation given TO section NO.
d. tho Commissioners would have to examine each In,
divdual ease occurring on about l3O,OOO miles OF
railroad and decide whether the tariff Is just and
reasonable or not. This is an impossbility:
The law is, therefore. impractieable OF execution
uuder that &C Instruction. and would cause great deal
more injustice than the injustice 1t was Intended to
correct. think the decision made by The Commission
was wise one IN giving Ieei 10 rSaJs wI nc could
The Commission had to choose between bankrupting
q whoie system Of railroads. and running the commerce
of that sect Oh OF country which is now properly and
satisfactorily served under the existing tariffs Its
decision is temporary. until such time as IT can further
investigate the subject; and the suspension OF the
rule ooes proven those parties who feel aggrieved
from applying the Comm sion TOR relief. The COLI
mission exercised wise discretion and prevented vey
Injurious effects which otherwise would bcvc followed
and which would ha, made the law obnoxious. i
think the law is excellent one In many Respects II
it applied as to correct abuses without creating
measure upon the Commission. which has given evil
donce OF III good Judgment by its first decision"
Commissioner Person OF the passenger department
OF The Trunk Line Association SAID The reg
uiate commerce has become a law, and this is not.
perhaps. the best tune to criticse from theoretical
point OF vvw. 1t too early d this point TO critcise
the law in its practical application to passenger bus
We busy trying it and eDdeavoring to adjust
rai Dad matters to conor to its provisions without
injury 10 the public unnecessary loss to the rail-
roads In its application to passenger business feel
certain that it will have many advantages to ali
concerned when it shall have been in operation long
enough for the people and the railroads to adjust
themselves to the conditions When 1t has been
construed by the commission or any other competent
authority, that all railroad companies undeIstani
alike quite possible that 1t will aid 10 bringing
order out of confusion. Up to this point am in
cined TO more good than harm in it,"
MR. DEPEw's VIEWS OF THE LAW.
President Chauncey If. Depew. of the New York
Central Railroad gazed steadily at an inquirer when
Interstate was suggested day or two ago. d" A
humorous paper the other day." he rema ked with
dcliberation, g had picture OF man dancing in
state Of rage in the street, his face wearing
preston OF mingled horror and despair and his fingers
stnned into his ears. He vas shouting bloody
murder at the top OF bis voice friend rushed
up to him, finally tore his hands away from his head
aud asked what was the matter. Controlling himself
With o great effort, the excited individual replied
Nothing nothing only fellow tried to tax with me
tn feel that way about the subject OF interstate COM
merce."
After pleasant laugh the situation, Mr.. Depew
said
The most interesting development of the act was
the application of the entire transportation and mer
camille interests In other Nords all Glasses connected
with the railroad business from the South for sus-
pension OF the law. supplemented by similar appeals
s IN
ipsthe legislative mind, to be benefited. asked
within two dayA after the law took effect, that it
might not be enforced 1t shows the distance between
actual popular grievances and the Congressional
understanding thereof II the Senate bill had be-
como law. without anv compromise with tho
medieval views OF the House of Representatives
vast al o. good would have been accomplished ana
the legislation could have been made more Iigid Ii,
under the operations OF the law the Com mission dis
covered that greater powers should be conferred it,
or that greater restrictions should be placed upon the
roads. 1t would have been able to point out Just
what the character Of those restrictions should be-
, We've got good Commission. The meh on 1t are
WISE; they won't panic easily and they have the
judicial turn OF mind 10 look through . clsmorOus
sumo lar ge dscretons BY liberal Interpretation OF
the statute or else do little until Congress meets and
then recommend immediate and urgent legislation
- am glad that have got at last National Rail-
way Commission. 1t has been needed for many years
in the interests of the public. the railroads and the
railroad investors; and when the crudities nconsist
been modified oy Congress or interpreted by the
courts into conformity with the commercial condi-
tons OF the country the railway securte; OF the
before The roads which are necessary for the pres
emit business and the development OF the territory
through which they will do better, aud the rotten
and unnecessary roads Will be relegated to their
proper place so that tho credulous public will not
lose their savings by investing In heir securities and
the good systcms will be relieved from the demorali
cation these bankrupt concerns have been able to
bring about whenever their demands were not met or
Whenever the speculative tendencies Of their man
ayers required
q What the public want ie reasonable rates and
stable There ought to be more doubt In the
calculation of the merchant. In business venture,
what his railroad rate shall be- than there Is as
to the charge upon the letter or parcel he seads
through the Post Office. Now, with equal and
reasonable Rates from the points to the same des
tnatons is probable that two of the FIVE lines to tho
seaboari would take all the business they had equip
ment to carry. The other lines ould then rslze
rates. and with them. demo.aiize all business also.
These conditions will necessitate di6erential to
the weaker limos equivalent to their disdv antages,
they are, from time to tme ascertaned-such diff
erenti will amply put the public upon equal con-
ditons By all lines.
Tho point slready developed by the law is that,
while the legislation OF the country Ia committed to